Panopto Adds Video Content Search to Lecture Capture Platform

Panopto has released a new version of its lecture capture platform that now allows users to search within videos for spoken words or any text that appears onscreen (or that appears in comments or notes).

According to Panopto, the new capabilities in version 4.6 are "more sophisticated than those offered by video giants like YouTube."

Using speech recognition, the software allows users to search by any term spoken within a video. A search for the term "education," for example, will take the user to the part of the video where that word is uttered by a speaker.

It also uses OCR to allow users to search for any text that appears in a video — on captured slides, screen shares, whiteboard captures, etc.

The new search features work with an institution's entire video library, including older videos, whether those individual files were recorded with Panopto or not.

In addition to the new search capabilities, Panopto 4.6 also offers improved customization for institutional branding and a new app for Android with support for "interactive viewing and complete video search," according to Panopto. (A version for iOS was previously released.) The Android app is freely available through Google Play.

Panopto's 4.6 release is available now. Additional details can be found on the company's site.

About the Author

David Nagel is editorial director, education for 1105 Media's Public Sector Media Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal. A 22-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art and business publications.